The North Yorkshire estate of Nun Appleton is situated close to Tadcaster and was, at one time, the country estate of the Fairfax family. It contains a Priory which was built around 1150. Today Nun Appleton Hall is a Grade II listed building enjoying ample open parkland. On this same parkland in the early part of the 1800s the estate organised its own race meeting on 18th April 1836. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
On Monday 18th April 1836 a steeplechase meeting was staged in the vicinity of Tadcaster under the stewardship of Lieutenant Colonel E G Douglas, with supporting stewards Lieutenant Colonel Wildman and Major Whydham. The fields adjacent to the course were completely covered by horsemen and pedestrians from Tadcaster, Leeds and other West-Riding places. The idea of a meeting originated from officers of the Scots Greys, stationed at nearby Leeds Barracks, and the terms read, 'A sweepstake of 5 sovereigns each, for gentleman riders, the purse open to all horses, each to carry 12st across 4 miles of country.' The start was in a field between Nun Appleton and Oxton, the beacon the riders headed for was the mill, while the winning flag was at the 5 milestone on the North side of the York road. At one o'clock the crowd was fully assembled in the correct fields lining the course, and the 6 runners came under starters orders at two o'clock.
Scots Greys Tadcaster Steeplechase Sweepstake over 4 miles
1. GRENADIER, grey horse owned and ridden by Captain Trafford
2. THE FARRIER, chestnut horse owned by Mr G Thompson and ridden by Worsley
3. GEORGE BARNWELL, bay horse owned by Mr T Fairfax and ridden by Smith
4. EAGLE, bay horse owned and ridden by Mr Murray
5. SATAN, brown horse owned by Mr Watson and ridden by Whitworth
6. EDITH, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Stansfield |
The only recorded meeting took place on 18th April 1836. |
| If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com |
Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-
London Illustrated News
Racing Illustrated 1895-1899
The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated
Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough
The Sporting Magazine
A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8
Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3
652 pages
774 former courses |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0
352 pages
400 former courses |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7
180 pages
140 former courses |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4
264 pages
235 former courses |
| Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent. |
| ORDER FORM |
| Download an order form |
| |
Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
|
|
| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
|
|
| Postage & Packaging |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
|